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Al-Q: We don't strike women
AL-QAEDA linked Pakistani militant Baitullah Mehsud was not involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, his spokesman said. "He had no involvement in this attack," Mehsud's spokesman Maulvi Omar said by telephone from an undisclosed location. "This is a conspiracy of the Government, army and intelligence agencies," he said. "I strongly deny it. Tribal people have their own customs. We don't strike women." The Pakistan Government has claimed that Mehsud was responsible for Benazir Bhutto's killing as she left an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday. Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the Government yesterday recorded an "intelligence intercept" in which Mehsud "congratulated his people for carrying out this cowardly act". Mr Cheema described Mehsud as an "al-Qaeda leader" and said he was also behind the October 18 bombing against Ms Bhutto's homecoming parade through Karachi that killed more than 140 people. Mehsud is a commander of pro-Taliban forces in the lawless Pakistani tribal region South Waziristan, where al-Qaeda fighters are also active. His forces often attack Pakistani security forces. He was recently quoted in a Pakistani newspaper as saying he would welcome Ms Bhutto's return from exile with suicide bombers. Mehsud later denied that in statements to local television and newspaper reporters. Mr Cheema said Mehsud was "behind most of the recent terrorist attacks that have taken place in Pakistan". Maulvi Omar said the transcript released by the Government, allegedly of a phone call between Mehsud and a militant discussing Bhutto's death after the fact, was a "drama". He said it would have been "impossible" for militants to get through the security cordon around the campaign rally where she was killed. "Benazir was not only a leader of Pakistan but also a leader of international fame. We express our deep grief and shock over her death," Maulvi Omar said. Posted by: tipper 2007-12-29 |
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